Combination step-ladder



(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 1, 1893.

t e e h s m e e h s 3 (No Model.) 3 Sheets8heet 2.

GL LAKE. COMBINATION STEP LADDER.

Patented Aug. 1,1893.

3 sheets-w-shee't 3.

No Model.)

G. LAKE. COMBINATION STEP LADDER.

Patented Aug. 1, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAITHER AMBROSE LAKE, OF STOCKWELL, INDIANA.

COMBINATION STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,367, dated August1, 1893.

Application filed April 22, 1893- Serial No. 471,480. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, GAITHER AMBROSE LAKE, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Stockwell, in the county of Tippecanoe and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCombination Step-Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention consists in a novel and extremely useful combination stepladder,which is adapted to be arranged in several different forms orpositions for different purposes, as shown in the accompanying drawings;and the invention will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof my entire combination ladder, showing it arranged for use in elevatedWork, such as papering ceilings, (he. Fig. 2 shows the ladder in itsextended horizontal position. Fig. 3 shows the ladder arranged as a longextended step-ladder. Fig. 4 shows the ladder arranged in asemi-elevated position. Fig. 5 shows the ladder as arranged for use incleaning windows, the. Fig. 6 shows it arranged as a short stopladder.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral figures.

Referring to the several parts by letter, A indicates the lower or frontsection of my combination step-ladder, which is preferably provided withflat steps, (1, although rounds may be used instead of the flat stepswhen preferred. This section of the ladder has at its upper and lowerends along round or bar, A, the ends of these rounds extending outbeyond the sides of the ladder, as shown, forming pivots for the purposehereinafter described.

On the upper round A are pivoted the forward ends of the side-pieces, ofwhat may be called the middle section, B, of my combination ladder, thisladdersection being provided with the usual rounds, I), and having atits upper or rear end a long round or bar, B,

the ends of which are extended out beyond the side-pieces, formingpivots.

O, 0, indicate the side-pieces of a central frame, said pieces beingpivotally mounted at their upper ends on the extended ends of the upperrounds A, while the frame is provided at its lower end with a longround, (3, the ends of which extend out beyond the sidepieces 0, asshown. The frame is strengthened and braced by inclined braces, D, D,crossing each other and secured at their ends to the side-pieces asshown.

E indicates the upper or rear ladder-section, the inner ends of theside-pieces of which are pivoted, detachably, at e, to the rear ends ofthe middle section B; the upper end of this section having a long round,E, the ends of which extend out beyond the side pieces.

F indicat supporting-bars, of which four are employed in the completeladder, each of said bars being formed near its center with openings F,and at each end with an open- .ing F These bars are also provided witheyes, F and with the hooked rods F, adapted to'engage with said eyes asshown, for the purpose hereinafter described.

I indicates short supporting-bars, having apertured upper ends.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, my combination ladder is shown arranged as ashort step-lad der,inwhich position it may be held from spreading byengaging the extended ends of the rounds A andB in the openings of twoof the bars F; the removable upper section E having been detached.

In Fig. 5 the central ladder-section is raised into a horizontalposition, and the extended ends of its end-rounds B are inserted throughthe central openings F of two of the supporting-bars F, which are placedin a vertical position. The front pivoted section A is held fromslipping or spreading out by rods or chains H, H, which are secured toeyes on the side pieces of the frame 0 and are provided with hookedouter ends which are engaged with eyes on the side-pieces of the frame0,]

as shown. der side at each end a transverse oleat or stop e, is placedon the horizontal section B; and a horizontal platform is thus formed onwhich the workman can walk in papering the walls of a room, cleaningwindows, (to.

A flat board, G, having on its un-' In Fig. 1- the ladder is shownarranged in a semi-elevated position, as used for gathering fruit, &c.The central frame C is here turned in a horizontal position, and thehooked ends of the rods or chains H, H, are engaged with eyes on thesides of the upper steps of the front ladder section. The bars F, F, arearranged in a vertical position, with the extended ends of the longround G at the free end of frame 0 passing through the central openingsof bars F, and the rear section B is then elevated to an angle of aboutforty-five degrees and the extended ends of its outer end-round B arepassed through the openings in the upper ends of the verticalsupporting-bars F, F, as shown. The ladder is thus firmly and securelyheld in this position.

In Fig. 3 the middle ladder-section is shown extended upward to its fullheight, the ends of the front section and the central frame resting onthe ground,the rods H preventing them from spreading, while the middlesection B is raised into a nearly vertical position, and the aperturedends of the supportingbars, F, are engaged with the extended ends of therounds O and B, as clearly shown.-

The ladder is thus extended to be used for gathering fruit high up in atree; or in painting the side of a house, or for many other puros'es.

In Fig. 2 the detachable upper or rear section E is shown pivoted to therear end of the middle section in its normal place; when its outer endmay be lowered into contact with the ground, thus supporting the middlesection B in its horizontal position; when hooked rods, E which arehinged to the sides of the upper section, are engaged with eyes B on thesides of the middle section, thus holding the part E from slipping orspreading. Or the section E may be raised into a horizontal position, asshown in dotted lines, thus forming an extension of the horizontalmiddle section. The short supporting-bars I here have their upperapertured ends fitted on the exdotted lines; two of said bars havingeyes, I, which are engaged by the hooked brace-rods E of the uppersection.

The ladder can be arranged for elevated work such as paperingceilings,for carpenters use, &c., by arranging it as described for Fig.3 but with the section E extended horizontally either forward, as shownin full lines in Fig. 1, or rearwardly, as shown in dotted lines;the-outer end of said section being supported. by two of thesupporting-bars F, as shown; the rods F of said bars being engaged withthe eyes F to hold the bars in their vertical positions engaged with theextended ends of the rounds C, B, E, and A, respectively. By placingflat boards on the horizontal upper section, a horizontal platform isthus provided. I have also shown in dotted lines in Fig.1 the section Eturned up in line with the section B, to rest up against the side of abination of a forward ladder section, a rear ladder section, and acentral frame, all pivotally connected together at their upper ends andhaving pivots projecting on the outer sides of their lower or free ends,and the sup porting bars formed with the central and end openingsadapted to receive said pivots; substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, of the forward ladder section, the ladder section B,and the central frame, all pivotally connected together at their upperends and having pivots projecting on the outer sides of their free ends,the

.rods or chains swiveled to the central frame and having end-hooks attheir free ends, eyes arranged on the side-pieces of the front section,and the supporting-bars formed with the central and end openings adaptedto recei ve said projecting end-pivots g'substantiall y as set forth.

3. In a combination ladder, the combination of the forward section, thesection B, and

r the central frame, all pivotal-1y connected at their inner ends on theextended top round of the front section, and having each atits .free endthe extended rounds the ends of g which project beyond the side-piecesto form pivot-bearings, the rods or chains swiveled to the central frameand having end-hooks at their free ends, eyes arranged on the sidepiecesof the front-section, and the supporting-bars formed with the centraland end openings adapted to receive said projecting pivots;substantially as set forth. tended ends of rounds B and E, as shown in4:. In a combination ladder, the combination of the front section, themiddle section B, and the central frame, all pivotally connected attheir inner ends and having at their free ends the extended rounds, thedetachable section E, pivoted detachabl'y to the outer end of the middlesection and having the extended round at its outerend, thesupporting-bars formed with the central and end openings adapted toreceive the ends of said extended rounds, and having the eyes andswiveled hooked rods, the hooked rods swiveled to the central frame, andthe eyes arranged on the front section C; substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.V G. AMBROSE LAKE.

Witnesses:

R. B. ARNOLD, G. SHUMAKER.

